Locking means for inclosed electeic switches



Jan. 1, 1924 1,479,011

J. SACHS LOCKING MEAIS FOR INCLOSED ELECTRIC SWITCHES Fihd Feb. 2. 19 22Patented Jan. I, 1924.

UNITED STATES JOSEPH SACHS OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

LOCKING MEANS FOR INCLOSED ELECTRIC SWITCHES.

Application filed February 2, 1922. Serial No. 533,733.

To all wlzomz't may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH SACHS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State'ofConnecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Looking Meansfor Inclosed Electric Switches, of which the following is aspecification.

In inclosed switches, that is those switches in which the stationary andmovable conductors are sealed in a casing and are operated for openingand closing the circuits from the exterior, it is desirable to limit thethrow of the movable conductors and also to be able to lock theoperating spindle with the circuits open. This invention relates tothose means which 'are applied to theinside of' the casings of suchswitches for limiting" or locking the operating spindles.

The object ofthe invention is to provide a very simple, cheap-and easily.manipiilate'dimeans for limiting the movement of orfor locking theoperating spindle, which imeans is so constructed and arranged thatthecovr of the-casing cannot be closed and sealed unless-said means isi111, correct position to perform the functiondesir'ed;

This object is attained ;'in' theembodiment of the invention:illustrated'by pivoting a latch on the insidenear the edge of-the casingwhich latch'has a partthat extends into-.the'pathxof a section of thespindle in the casing and a art that projects to the outside: of thecasing into thepath of the 'edge off the cover in'such manner that ifthe latch is notin approximate stopping or locking position the cover'isobstructed by it and cannot be closed -and if the latch is inapproximate-but not ultimate position, closing the coverwill force it tocorrect position to properly perform its, function. In the accompanyingdrawings Figure 1 shows a plan ofan inclosed switch with the coveromitted,xthat is provided with an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 isa section of the same on. the plane indicated by thedotted line 2-2 onFig. l with the cover closed and' the latch in stopping position. Fig. 3shows on larger scale the co operatin'gparts with the latch in stoppingposition. Fig. 4 is a similar view with the latch in looking position.Fig. 5 shows an edge view of the co-operating parts. Fig. 6" is a viewshowing in full lines the latch turned into such position that the covercannot be closed, and in dotted lines positions of the latch in which itwill be forced to place by the closing of the cover.

The particular type of switch mechanism is not essential to thisinvention. That which is illustrated has two conductors l ivoted toconducting ears 2 and adapted to e swung into and out of engagement withconducting ears 3. These parts are mounted on an insulating base block 4that is secured to the back wall 5 of the metal enclosing case. Attachedto the movable conductors are plates 6 of insulating material providedwith notches 7.

The operating spindle is rotatably supported by the opposite side walls8 of the casing- On the exterior the spindle has a handle section 9 andon the interior has a crank section 10 that engages the notches in mentto thecrank on the interior and this throws the movable conductors inthe manner common to this type of switch.

Pivotally; mounted on the inside of one of the casing side walls nearthe edge is a latch-1 1. The free' end of the latch has a lug 12 -thatextends inwardly into the plane of thef path of the spindle crank. .Whenthelatch is turned to the position shown in Fig. 3 the lug forms a stopwhich engages the crank and limits the opening movement of theconductors. With the latch in the position 'shown in Fig. 4 the lugextends in front of and prevents the spindle crank I from being turnedso as to throw the movableconcluctors into engagement with thestationary conductors. The latch moves close-to the sidewall of thecasing. Fas tened tothe latch and extending outward across ,the edge-ofthe casing and into the path of the edge of the cover 13 is a headedstudl l. A notch 15 is cut in the edgeof the casing and when the latchis turned .to position to properly perform the desired function the studwill lie in the notch. An indentation 16 maybe struck in from the side'wall'so as to project into the path of the latch and preventtheaccidental movement of the latch from stopping or locking position.The latch may be oscillated when sufficient force is appliedto move itpast this indentation.

If the latch is turned over and left in the position shown in full linesin Fig. 6 the cover cannot be closed down to the box for the edge of thecover engages with an is held from closim by the stud that projects fromthe latch. hould the latch be left approxi mately in stoppin or lockingposition as illustrated by the ottecl lines in Fig. (3 the edge of thecover engages with the stud and turns the latch down and forces it intoproper position before the cover can be closed and secured. When thecover is closed and fastened the latch cannot be moved.

The invention claimed is:

1. An incl'osed switch comprising an enclosing case, switch operatingmeans, and means adapted to be moved into position to limit the movementof the switch operating means, said limiting means having a part thatprojects into the path of the edge .of the cover whereby the cover cannot be closedv tightly unless said limiting means is in position toperform its function.

2. An inclosed switch comprising an enclosing ca'se, switch operatingmeans supported within the case, and means pivot ally connected with thewall of the case and adapted to be swung into position to limit themovement of the switch operating means or to locli the switch operatingmeans agninst n'ovement, said limiting and looking means having a partthatprojects to the eiterior ofthe case into the path of the edge'of thecover whereb;- the cover can not. be closed tightly until the saidlimiting anddocliin means is in position to perform its requiredfunction.

"3. An inclosed switch comprising an enclosing case switch operatingmeans, and pivoted means adapted to be swung into and out of-engagementwith the switch operating means on the interior of the case, said meanshaving a projection extending to the exterior of the case into the pathof the cover and adapted to be engaged thereby, and preventing theclosing of the cover unless the pivoted means in theinterior is inposition to be engaged by the switch opcrating-means.

4. An inclosed switch comprising an-enclosin case, switch operatingmeans supported by'thewalls of the case means pivoted'to the insideof-the side wall of the case andadapted to be swung into and outoflocking'or stopping engagement with the switch operating means on=theinterior of the case, said means having a projection extending to theexterior ofthe case into the path-ofthe edge of the cover-and adapted to'heengaged thereby.

5. An inclosed switch comprising an onclosing case, a switch operatingcrank 'spindle'supported by the walls-of the case,

a pivoted latch in the case, said latch havmg a part adapted to engage aportion of the crank spindle in the interior of the case, and a partadapted to be engaged by the edge of the casing cover on the exterior ofthe case.

(E. An inclosed switch comprising an enclosmg case, a switch operatingcrank spindle supported by the walls of the case. a latch pivoted to theinside of the wall of the case adjacent to a bent portion of the spindlesaid latch having an offset part extending into the path of abentporfiion of the spindle and means extending to the exterior into thepath of the edge of the casmg cover.

7 An inclosed switch comprising an onclosing case, an operating spindlesupported by the walls of the case, said spindle having a crank sectionin the -inberior antl a handle on the exterior of the case,and a pivotedlatch having a part: extending-in the interior into the patlrofthtrcrank'and a part projecting to the'exberi'or inbo 'tlie path of theedge=of the casing (raven-whereby the cover cannot be closed nnless saidlatch is in position to be engaged 'by-the switch operating mechanism.

8. An inclosed switch comprisingflan enclosing case, an operatingspindld ported by the walls of the case, said spin lehaving a cranksection in the interior :nnd a handle on the exterior of the case,'an'dfa latch pivoted inside of the-caseysaidlabch having a partprojecting in the interior' of 'the case into the path of the-crank andadapted in onewposition to lock tho-crank and in another positionto-stop the crank, said latch also having a part projecting to theexterior of the case into the path of the edge of the casing-cover.

9. An inclosed switch comprising an enclosing case, switch operatingmeans, and means in the interior of the'casemdapted in one position to:engage and limit the movement of the switch operating means and inanother position to lock the-switch operatin mechanism against movement,said limiting -means having 11- art that is engaged and held inbothoperative positions by the edge of the casing cover.

10. An inclosed switch-comprising an enclosing case, switch operating-mea.ns,:and means adj stable-to limit the opening movement-of theswitch operating means or prevent the closing movement of the switchoperating means, said meanshaving a part that projects into the nth ofthe edge of the casing cover where y the cover-cannot be tightly closedunless the said limiting means is in functional position.

11. An inelosed switch comprising an enclosing case having a movableoover, switch operating means, and means adapted to be moved intoposition to limit the movement of-the switch operating means, saidlatter means preventing the closing of the casing cover unless inposition to limit the movement of the operating means.

12. An inelosed switch comprising an enclosing case having a movablecover, switch operating means, a latch adapted to limit the movement ofsaid operating means, and means associated with the latch, casing andcover to prevent the closing of the cover unless the latch is inposition to limit the to movement of the operating means.

13. An inelosed switch having external operating means, and meansadapted to prevent the complete shutting of the closure unless saidmeans is in position to limit 15 the movement of the operating means.

JOSEPH SACHS.

